Chinese New Year begins late January to late February in the western
calendar. It's also called Spring Festival. CNY ends with a lantern festival. Each year, a different animal of the 12-year
Chinese zodiac is featured. In 2015, it's Year of the Sheep (also referred to
as Year of the Goat). CNY 2015 began Feb. 19. Lantern Festival is March 5. Here
are free printable lantern
festival craft activities to
celebrate.

Visit
First-Palette for an easy lantern craft download. The site gives instructions
on how to make it. Next, hop on the Craft Train blog for free printable lantern
templates. These are super easy
to make with preschoolers. Even toddlers can get some early scissors cutting
practice in.

Print
CNY jigsaw puzzles with whimsical animals of the zodiac. There's a whole page
on dragons as that magical beast is one of the Chinese zodiac creatures. There
are fireworks and lantern activities (light is a theme of Chinese New Year). For
more Lantern Festival printables and crafts, hustle on over to this website
devoted to Chinese New Year. Here are printable Chinese New
Year greeting cards.

You
could teach an entire unit on China in elementary school or preschool using
these printables. The Lantern Festival is called Yuan-Xiao Festival in China
and is celebrated the 15th day of the first lunar month in the Chinese
calendar. To wish someone Happy New Year, say Kung Hei Fat Choy! or Gong Xi Fa
Cai!